Thong-stitch sewing-machine.



E. GNOETH.

THONG STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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E. GNOETH. THONG STITCH SEWING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 4, 1909.

978,01 7. r H Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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THONG STITCH SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0014, 1909,

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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EIVIIL GNOETH, OF MADISON VILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL HARNESS MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

THONG-STITCH SEWING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL GNoETH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madisonville, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thong-Stitch Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in thong-sewing machines, primarily of the type having a pair of reciprocating needle bars, adapted to alternately carry a thong threaded, double pointed needle, and force the same through the goods supported upon a table. As the needle has a given limit of travel, carrier means are provided above and below the table to engage the thong after it has been partially pulled through the goods and draw the unstitched length, and release the needle of all strains incident thereto. The carrier means is provided with tension mechanism to release the carrier engagement after. the thong has been properly drawn for a given stitch.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a pair of reciprocating needle bars, oppositely disposed in position and travel, with each needle bar provided with needle gripping means and gripper tripping means, in combination with means for actuating said tripping means upon each alternate reciprocating movement of its respective needle bar.

Another object of my invention is to provide thong drawing mechanism, adapted to engage the thong after it has been initially fed through the goods by the needle and continue the drawing action of the thong to release the needle of the strain incident thereto, together with tension means carried thereby to release such thong engagement after the stitch has been completed and pulled to the proper tautness.

Another object of my invention is to provide means adjacent to the path of travel of the needle, and upon opposite sides of the supporting table, adapted to engage the thong and grip its threaded end and arrest the movement of said end, while the remainder portion of the thong is pulled through the goods.

The features of my invention are more Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 4, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 520,785.

fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the thong drawing arms and tension mechanism. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the thong engaging disk carried by the drawing mechanism, illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section, partly in elevation, through one of the needle bars, and supporting brackets projected from the frame of the machine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of one end of one of the thong guides. Fig. 6 is a section on line 00, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line a, a, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a detailed view, illustrating the mechanism for operating the needle gripper tripping mechanism, the same being taken vertically through the frame of the machine at such point. Fig. 9 is a section on line Z), I), Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a detailed rear elevation of the machine, illustrating the train of gearing for transmitting motion to various elements. Fig. 11 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the needle in a released position Within the needle bar. Fig. 12 is a section view of the lower portion of the needle bar, illustrating another step of needle control, relative to the needle bar.

The machine as illustrated, is an improvement upon the type of machine principally as is illustrated. in the patent to L. L. Miller, assignor, No. 515,713, granted February 27, 1894, for Pop-stitch sewing machine, and the mode of operation and driving mechanismare substantially the same, with the exception of certain improved features,

which will be fully hereinafter described. The needle bar reciprocating mechanism, awl, and its reciprocating mechanism and means for producing difierential rotation to the thong drawing mechanism, as illustrated, are substantially the same as that shown and described in said Miller patent, and therefore, will herewith describe such mechanism briefly.

A represents the frame of the machine, B the driving pulley fixed to a shaft suitably journaled within the frame. C represents the upper and lower semi-circular thong guides; D, E, the upper and lower needle bars respectively; F the thong drawing arms rotatively mounted over the thong guides C, with each arm differentially rotated relative to each other, and in driving connection with the main driving pulley B, as follows :-31 represents a shaft, upon which the main pulley B is fixed, and 32 represents a gear likewise fixed to the shaft 31, in mesh with a gear 33, see Fig. 10, suitably journaled on the frame of the machine, said gear 33 is in mesh with a gear 34, fixed upon the shaft 35. 36 represent-s an eccentric gear fixed to the shaft 35, in mesh-with an eccentric gear 37, fixed to the shaft 38, and 39 represents a gear fixed upon shaft 38, in mesh with a gear 39*, fixed upon the shaft 40 and upon which shaft the upper thong drawing arm F is fixed. 41 represents an eccentric gear in mesh with eccentric gear 36, fixed to the shaft 42. 43 represents a gear fixed to the shaft 42, in mesh with an intermediate gear 44, said intermediate gear 44 is in mesh with a gear 45, fixed on shaft 46, to which shaft the lower drawing arm F is fixed and receives motion. This arrangement is substantially the same as shown and described in said Miller patent, and primarily for the purpose of moving the upper and lower arms F quickly, during one part of the revolution in pulling the thong, and slowly during the remaining portion of the revolution, to provide for the thong to be completely drawn in making a stitch and before the needle bars approach each other for a second stitch.

1 represents the table, provided with suit able guards at the forward and rear ends thereof.

47 represents the awl reciprocating bar, having an awl 48, fixed to one end thereof and actuated by suitable mechanism, substantially the same as shown and described in said Miller patent. The upper and lower needle bars and their contained elements are substantially the duplicate of each other in construction and mode of operation, and in consequence thereof will describe but one in detail.- Each bar D is provided with a knuckle clamp 3, frictionally secured upon the needle bar, thereby rendering the same adjustable relative thereto. 49 represents a link pivotally connected to the knuckle clamp 3 at one end, with its opposite end pivotally connected to a needle bar actuating lever 50, actuated by suitable mechanism, substantially the same as described in said Miller patent, for reciprocating said needle bar simultaneously in relative opposite directions for forcing the needle through the material to be stitched.

1 represents a tripping bar slidably mounted in a groove 2, formed in the needle bar D, and maintainedin a normalposition by. means of a spring 4, one end of which engages a shoulder formed on the tripper haul, the opposite end engaging a pin projecting from the needle bar D, with the nee dle bar grooved to receive the spring and the tripper bar notched to provide the shoulder and overlap the spring, to retain thespring in its position. One of the supporting brackets 5 is slotted, and forms a guide, through which the needle bar and tripper bar reciprocate.

6 represents a stop-screw threaded upon a projection extending from one end of the tripper bar 1, the opposite end is provided with a cam surface adapted to receive the needle catch 7, pivotally mounted within a slot formed in the needle receiving end of the needle bar D. The needle catch '7 adapted to engage with a notch 01, formed in the needle N, to hold the same in position and move with the needle bar, as the needle is being pulled through the goods, and after it has been released by the opposite needle bar,

The needle and its gripping means are controlled by the following instrumentalities :In operation, the needle is alternately pushed through the goods by the needle bars, which are simultaneously reciprocated in relative opposite directions, in which the needle is transferred from one needle bar to the other, and completely drawn through the goods. This action requires two reciprocations for each needle bar, in which the one needle barpushes the needle partially through the goods,whence it is gripped by the opposite needle bar'and completely drawn through the goods of say the upper needle bar, and on the second downward stroke of the upper needle bar the needle is partially pushed through the goods and received by thelower needle bar, to complete the stitch operation.

This action requires that the needle gripping means be positively relieved in one downward reciprocation of its respective needle bar and maintained in a normal position to receive and grip the needle, and this is accomplished by the following instrumentalities :10 represents a cam wheel fixed upon the shaft 35, and 11 represents a lever pivoted at (Z to the frame of the machine, with the arm extension '12, of the lever 11, provided with an anti-friction roller engaging against the cam 10. d, 2'', represent trip-rods connected to the lever 11, one at each end thereof, and adapted to be reciprocated in opposite directions to move in and out of the path of the screw 6, carried by the respective tripper-bars 1, to properly actuate the same. 13 represents a spring coiled around the rod 2', one end of which engages against the frame, the opposite end against a collar fixed to'the rod z', for maintaining the lever 11 in contact with the cam 10. Thus in operation, say the needle N is in engagement with the upper needle bar, and in its downward movement is pushed through the goods by the upper needle bar, at the same instance, the lower needle bar is moving correspondingly upward. The tripping rod 2', in this instance, is pushed by the cam 10, into the path of travel of the stop screw 6 and engaged thereby, arresting further downward movement of the tripping bar 1, although not interfering with the downward movement of the upper needle bar, which action upon the tripper bar 1 will swing the catch 7 out of its notch engagement with the needle N, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the catch 7 riding over the incline 8 formed on the tripper bar 1, see Figs. 4 and 11, releasing the needle from the upper needle bar and permitting the same to be engaged by the lower needle bar. The tripping rod 2', in such instance, is out of the path of travel of the stop screw 6 on the lower tripper bar 1, and, therefore, does not affect or disturb the position of the lower tripper bar 1, adapting the needle to be engaged by the catch 7 on the lower needle bar, for completing the movement of the needle through the goods upon the reverse movement of the needle bar. On the second upward stroke of the lower needle bar, the tripping rod 2" has been moved in the path of travel of the stop screw 6 of the lower tripper bar 1, and the reverse of operation taking place, as has just been described. As soon as a given tripper bar 1 has been released from its engagement from its respective trippingrod, the parts on the needle bar will be restored to normal position through the action of spring 41. i

Fig. 12 is the section of the lower portion of the needle bar with the parts in position to receive the needle. This construction of needle grip and trip is very positive in its action, and securely holds the needle when drawn through the goods, owing to the bell crank form of the catch 7, and obviates a great deal of trouble had in machines of this class in efiecting a proper release and grip of the needle. Owing to the limited movement of the needle bar and the varying length of thong, means are provided for pulling the thong through the goods after it has been initially fed through by the needle and the stitch pulled to a proper degree of tautness. This is accomplished by the following instrumentalities:Duplicate construction being provided above and below the table :F represents the thong drawing arm in the upper instance fixed upon the shaft 40, while the lower is fixed upon shaft 16, for continuously rotating said arms over the thong guides, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3. H represents a rod supported in a journal Gr, formed on the arm F, the outer end is formed into a cylinder I and provided with an annular series of notches is. L represents a thong pulling and releasing spider secured upon the end of shaft H, having a series of arms Z, slightly curved on one side to engage the thong. The spider L is provided with a series of ratchet teeth m, projecting from the inner face of the hub thereof, and engaged with the notches 7c of the cylinder I. It represents a spring interposed between the journal G and a suitable abutment secured 011 the ends of shaft H, for maintaining the teeth at under tension within the notches 7;. The spring 71 provides the proper tension to prevent the spider arm Z from releasing its engage ment with the thong 6, until it is pulled through the goods for its entire unstitched length and the stitch pulled to the desired degree of tautness, and any additional strains brought upon the arm, greater 'han the frictional resistance, caused by the spring between the ratchet members 71: and m will cause the spider L to be rotated rearwardly, or in a direction to release the arm engagement with the thong e. As the arms F are continuously rotated in a complete circle, the spider arms move across the vertical path of the needle bars and thereby engage the thong at a proper time. The rotation of the arms is such that the thong is pulled taut and released prior to a second stitching operation and providing a dilfen ential speed of rotation during a complete revolution, for the purposes as hereinbefore set forth.

In order to relieve the needle of any pulling strains incident to the drawing of the thong through the goods by the thong draw ing mechanism, and to hold one end rigidly against movement while the length of thong is being pulled through the goods, I provide the following instiuimentalities:-C represents the thong guides, semi-circular and U-shaped in cross-section, with the U- limbs thereof provided with elastic strips se cured to the rims thereof, to provide practically a closed channel to receive the thong, the same being pulled between the elastic strips, substantially the same as is shown and described in said Miller patent. 15 represents jaw-platcs secured to the inner faces of the U-limbs of the thong guide C, and at the receiving end thereof, see Figs. 5 and 6, with the opposing faces of the aws tapered relative to each other, and provided with the diagonal corrugations 18, providing-a tapered serrated recess 16, to receive and grip the thong as it is being drawn through the goods by the thong drawing mechanism and relieving the needle of any strain, and at the same time permitting the thong to be readily withdrawn therefrom when it is pulled in an opposite direction. As illustrated, the jaw plates 15 are maintained together as a unit by the rivets 17 and secured to the limbs of the thong guides by the screw 17.

Having described invention, I claim 1. In a thong-sewing-machine, employing a traveling-take-up arm, a rotatable shaft journaled on the end of said arm and having an abutment on one of its ends, a thong pullerhaving a plurality of arms and secured to said shaft, a notched cylinder on said arm, and friction devices for controlling the rotation of the thong puller, consisting of a series of projections on the face of the thon puller and around the axis of the shaft, ac apted to engage with the notches of the cylinder, and a spring interposed between the take-up arm and the abutment on the shaft, for exerting friction against rotation of the thong pulling arms.

2. In a machine of the class described, employing a supporting table, needle bars upon opposite sides of the table, a thong guide upon each side of the table, a traveling thong puller, a double pointed thong needle, a pair of corrugated jaws rigidly mounted in one end of the thong guide, to form a tapering recess, into which the thong is wedged by the pulling of said thong by the thong puller.

3. In a machine of the class described, employing thong sewing and take-up devices, of a thong guide having tapering jaws provided with corrugated faces to grip and hold the thong 4. In a machine of the class described, a pair of reciprocating needle bars oppositely disposed in position and travel, each needle bar provided-with a bell crank. needle catch, and a tripper bar-slid-ably mountedthereon, one end of which is adapted to engage and control the needle catch, and means-adapted to move in the ,path of tripper bar travel upon eachalternate reciprocation of said needlebar to-actuate said catch to a needle releasing, position.

5. In a machineof the class described,.a pair of reciprocating needle bars oppositely disposed in position and travel, needle gripping means and gripper tripping means mounted upon each needle bar, means for actuating said tripping means upon eachalternate reciprocation of a respective needle bar, a double pointed'needle alternately engaged by said needle bars, thong drawing mechanism adapted to engage .the thong after it has been partially fed through the goods, tension means therefor, whereby the thong is released after it has been pulled through the goods and the stitch has been pulled to a predetermined degree of tautness, thong gripping means adapted to en gage one end of the thong and arrest the movement thereof, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed jaws with relatively tapered and diagonally corrugated surfaces.

In testimony whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand.

EMIL GNOETH.

lVitnesses OLIVER B. KAISER, EMMA SPENER. 

